News & Advice

20 Best Winter Travel Deals for Last-Minute Trips or 2025 Vacations

Jump on these deals now, so you can travel cheaper later.
Fishing boats are docked in the port of Ketchikan Alaska.  Homes overlook the port. RM
Jodi Jacobson/Getty

Black Friday came and went, but wanderlust runs year-round. While some travel brands are taking a brief hiatus from offering deals to plot their next slate of promotions, plenty of discounts remain yours for the taking this winter. Maybe you’re eager to flock somewhere where the sun’s still shining, or are currently in an unseasonably warm climate and desperate for snow. Wherever you’re itching to go next, you have tons of great options.

Sail to Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands with major travel incentives through Celebrity Cruises, or take the kids on a 30-percent-off Disney cruise that ends in Hawaii. If you’re looking to get out of town as soon as New Year’s Eve, Booking.com has last-minute hotel deals to make up for any pesky holiday price gouging. And if you prefer driving to flying, you can rent a car through Avis or a camper van through Cabana this winter and score hundreds of dollars off the bill. Why not get a head start on your 2024 resolution to see more of the world?

All listings featured in this story are independently selected by our editors. However, when you book something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This article has been updated with new information since its original publish date.

Courtesy Oliver Roesler Oor

Flight deals

College students save big on Lufthansa flights and baggage fees

Verify your student status with Lufthansa and immediately reap the rewards, unlocking a host of discounted economy flights between the United States and Europe, India, Africa, or the Middle East. Students also earn one free piece of checked baggage and the option to get a refund without fees. The program only applies to students in college who are over the age of 16.

Cut costs big time with Frontier Airlines’ shockingly cheap one-way flight sales

Autumn sales are in full swing at Frontier Airlines, where travelers can currently snag one-way flights as cheap as $19 between select locations on select dates. This option works best if you’re flexible with dates and destinations—you won’t have a lot of wiggle room with these deals. If you’re feeling restless, on a budget, or are eager to get out of town, consider Frontier for an affordable start to your getaway.

Save up to 30 percent on vacation packages with Spirit Airlines

The budget airline is making it a cinch to save big not just on airfare, but hotels and more with its vacation packages, which are currently up to 30 percent off when travelers book a combination of flights, hotels, or rental cars together. Several of the top deals offer trips to Las Vegas and Cancun from cities like Chicago, Houston, and Atlanta, starting at surprisingly low prices that include flights and a hotel.

Save up to 40 percent on hotel stays with Etihad Airways’ Stopover Package

Stopover packages are a great way to add another destination to your journey without spending too much extra cash. Travelers who want to experience Abu Dhabi can take advantage of Etihad Airways’ discounted Stopover Packages, which currently include 40 percent off two- or four-night hotel stays in top properties, or a free stay in select three- or four-star hotels. The offer also comes with discounts on restaurants and other experiences, as well as amenities like 24-hour check-in and buffet breakfast. Travelers must make bookings at least three days in advance before arriving in Abu Dhabi.

Rocky Mountaineer is famous for its incredible views of the North American West

Courtesy Rocky Mountaineer 

Train deals

Ride out Amtrak’s range of ongoing sales

Amtrak is always offering some good longer-lasting deals. Riders can enjoy up to 20 percent in savings on train rides booked at least seven days in advance, trimming costs on a variety of routes that range from coast to coast with no change fees. Plus, on most journeys, seniors save 10 percent on ticket costs—that means travelers 65 and over for qualifying domestic trips and ages 60 and up on cross-border expeditions. And, Amtrak has sweetened the savings on its children’s discount, so little ones between two and 12 years old may travel for 50 percent off with an accompanying adult.

Service members save $100 on 2024 train tours through Colorado and Utah

On all of Rocky Mountaineer’s Rockies to the Red Rocks train tour bookings, military service members can save $100 with proof of service. Since it’s an ongoing deal, the discount can be combined with any additional limited-time offers that pop up in the coming year, so keep an eye out for new promotions if you’re not ready to commit to a date just yet.

Tour deals

Plan a large group outing and earn the seventh spot free

Looking to take your next family reunion to a new level? Get the ol’ college friends back together? Go on a quadruple date? Whatever the occasion, EF Go Ahead Tours’ Group Coordinator Program caters to large groups, allowing you to handcraft your next experience and save some money along the way. For every six people who sign up, you’ll get a seventh tour spot for free. You can view this as buy six tickets, get one free; or buy 12, get two free; or buy 18, get three free—you get the point. There’s no cap to the number of free spots you can earn. Why not go all out?

Save on select Ace Hotel properties, including its Brooklyn location

Stephen Kent Johnson

Hotel deals

Get up to 20 percent off at Ace Hotels when you pay early

Ace Hotel’s Greetings From the Future deal rewards guests who book—and pay—at least two weeks in advance by trimming up to 20 percent off the reservation price. The discount, cleverly branded as “paying it forward for future you,” applies at multiple Ace locations and can be secured by booking through the deal webpage.

Save 10 percent at Omni Hotels on two-night stays

Omni’s Escape and Save offer is crystal clear: At the chain’s participating hotels and resorts, guests can now save 10 percent on bookings lasting two nights or longer. Book directly through the offer page and the deal is done, no effort required.

Book a suite with Loews Hotels and get extra on-site perks

Loews Hotels is sweetening its suite experience by giving travelers up to $125 daily for food and drink—the credit amount varies by location—plus free Premium Plus Wi-Fi. Currently, the hotels offering the largest dining credits are Loews Miami Beach and Loews Regency New York, but other properties still put up a good fight. Check out the offer page to find out what you can expect at your dream Loews destination.

Bundle flights with an Atlantis Bahamas resort stay and save up to $300

Now through January 7, 2025 (yes, really!), guests can save up to $300 when booking flights and rooms at the same time through Atlantis Paradise Islands’ website. All five of Atlantis’ Bahamas resorts are honoring the special, and the only condition is that guests stay a minimum of two nights at the resort and pay the flight and hotel costs in full at the time of booking.

Save 15 percent or more on spontaneous bookings with Booking.com

Booking.com loves a getaway deal, which comes in handy if you’re still not sure where you’re staying for that last-second New Year’s Eve trip you’re trying to pull together. The site promises at least—not “up to”—15 percent off qualifying hotels of all price ranges, which are sorted by destination on the site to help guide you to a decision, but the promo only runs until January 3, 2024, meaning it’s now or never.

A plush hotel bed at Mondrian Los Angeles

Courtesy Mondrian LA

Get a sweet, suite deal at Mondrian Los Angeles

Level up your LA vacay with discounted suites at Mondrian Los Angeles—they’re currently 20 percent off and also come with a $25 daily in-room dining credit and guaranteed late check out of 1 p.m. (early check-in is based upon availability; the deal also is subject to availability, and blackout dates may apply). The suites offer travelers a spiffy home base right in the heart of West Hollywood, and the property’s dreamy rooftop pool is a perfect way to wind down after a day of sightseeing and celeb spotting.

Fishing boats docked in port of Ketchikan, Alaska

Jodi Jacobson/Getty

Cruise deals

Find major savings—and bring extra guests for free—with Princess' new cruise sale

Princess Cruises' 2024 Wave Sale is bringing discounts on discounts to sailors with select itineraries in 2024, 2025, and 2026. If you book between now and February 29, 2024, you can get a triple-threat deal of up to 40 percent off cruise fares, free room upgrades, and a third and fourth guest totally free. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Get 20 percent off an all-inclusive Galapagos cruise plus round-trip airfare

Through May 31, 2024, travelers can enjoy an all-inclusive trip to the historic Galapagos Islands in Ecuador with major savings if they play their cards right: that means 20 percent off cruise fares with Celebrity Cruises, and free round-trip airfare if you book an offer package by calling the cruise line directly. By all-inclusive, Celebrity means it’ll cover flights, guided Galapagos National Park excursions, meals by a Michelin-star chef, unlimited drinks, and Wi-Fi costs aboard the ship. (See more of our favorite Galapagos cruises here.)

Fly to Europe for free with a 2024 river cruise

Avalon Waterways is enticing Americans to book a European river cruise by offering free round-trip economy airfare from several US cities, and giving passengers $250 off their cruise rate with select itineraries. To get maximum savings, make sure you read the fine print and choose a qualifying 2024 itinerary—and be sure to book by January 3, 2024, even if you’re not traveling till later in the year, since that’s when the offer expires.

Take your family on a Disney cruise with a 30-percent-off special

Family-friendly Disney Cruise Line is offering between 20 and 30 percent savings on select cruises setting sail between now and March from Sydney, Australia; Honolulu, Hawaii; and Port Canaveral, Florida. The Caribbean cruises on offer include a Pixar-themed day, incorporating characters from films Toy Story, Up, Inside Out and Monsters, Inc. into the activities.

Kids cruise free in parties of three or four with Holland America Line

Family vacations with Holland America are extra affordable in 2023 and 2024 with the cruise line’s limited-time Kids Cruise Free booking deal. The special offer provides free travel to destinations like Alaska, Europe, and the Caribbean for up to two kids, if they’re booked as the third and/or fourth guests in the party. As far as Holland America is concerned, anyone 18 and under qualifies as a kid, so you can bring your teens along for the journey just as well.

Even more travel deals

Save hundreds on extended stays with Cabana Camper Vans

Cabana operates a fleet of luxury, high-tech camper vans available for rent. Right now, travelers can knock $600 off the cost of a rental lasting 10 or more nights using the promo code 10NIGHTSTAY. Planning a slightly shorter trip? On bookings five nights or longer, you can still get $200 off with the promo code 5NIGHTSTAY.

Get up to 35 percent off an Avis car rental when you pay ahead

Avis’ Winter Sale means drivers can get rewarded for paying up front when they book a car rental. Applying at participating locations between now and June 2024, travelers will get 35 percent off the time and mileage charges on their Avis bill. To redeem, just complete your booking on the offer page and watch the total price get slashed.